IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla won’t be defending against mandatory Andy Cruz on the November 22nd card in Riyadh. It’s a fight that Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) wanted, but it won’t be happening.

Muratalla-Cruz Fight Off

Mike Coppinger reports that the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, Cruz, was “on board,” and he left it at that, hinting that it was Muratalla’s side that didn’t want the fight.

Top Rank hasn’t announced its plans for its fighter, Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs), as he can’t hold onto his IBF title for long before the fight with Cruz is ordered. It’s believed that he has from nine to twelve months before he’ll be forced to defend against Cruz or give up the belt.

That would be a bad look on Muratalla’s part if he vacates or is stripped of his IBF title for failing to defend against Andy Cruz. Fans on social media believe that he didn’t want to lose his O. So, he opted not to take the fight with Andy.

Muratalla, 28, is missing out on a golden opportunity to prove himself by fighting Andy Cruz at Turki Alalshikh’s event on November 22nd at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. If Raymond fought on that card and won, his stock would rise, and Turki’d likely invite him to his other events. But for him not to fight Cruz gives fans the impression that he didn’t want any of that smoke from the talented Cuban.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has been quiet about who he wants Cruz to fight next. He doesn’t want to put him in with the other lightweight he promotes, Shakur Stevenson because he’s trying to position him for a fight against Gervonta Davis. Andy would spoil things by beating Shakur, making him look bad, and permanently ruining his chances of ever getting a taste of the millions he would enjoy from a Tank fight.

Cruz’s Fighting Style Evolution

Andy’s fighting style has been gradually modified by his trainer, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, since turning pro in 2023. He’s become more of a puncher in the last year and goes after his opponents with power shots. In Cruz’s previous fight, he stopped Hironori Mishiro in the fifth round in an IBF title eliminator on June 14th at Madison Square Garden in New York.